Robby Bleys’ Post

Communications is vital even in a marriage life is the key of success!

Congratulations to all store leaders and teams in #UAE who achieved their BTS targets. 👏 🫡 And just in case you fell short of targets, here's what me and team RETAILizm. want to say to you and all the heroes of your store. In the aisles of dreams, where ambitions reside, You gave it your all; there's nothing to hide. Though targets were missed, and numbers fell short, Remember, my friend, life's more than a sales report. ❤️ The smiles you sparked, the service you gave, Are the moments in time, that customers save. Though spreadsheets don't show the hearts that you've won, Or the battles you've fought from dawn until done.😰 So lift up your head, wear your efforts with pride, For success isn't just in the sales that you've tried. It's in the lessons you've learned and the team you've built, In the quilt of your dreams, there's no room for guilt.🤩 A new month awaits, with chances anew, To show the world what your spirit can do. Though last month is gone, its lessons remain, Fuel for your fire, and strength for your aim.💪 So if targets were missed, don't mope or feel blue, Remember, even Superman can't find a phone booth to change into!🤭 Put on your cape, let's fly to the sky, With the experiences gained, we'll give this month a try!🤗 Have a great day ahead! #retaillife #salestargets #retailheroes #frontlineretail

Sometimes it’s something as simple as attending your works annual party that is organised by your brilliant store team, that makes you realise that what you do is absolutely worth all the blood, sweat and tears. A very comical awards ceremony at the @marksandspencer White City store party culminated in the spotlight turning on the store manger (me) to present a video message from the team to award me with a ‘lifetime achievement’ award. Some humbling and very touching messages were recorded which was all very unexpected and completely unnecessary, but gave me a realisation that how you engage, behave and interact with the people you work with has a lasting impact. Being courteous, having manners, leading with transparency is something I have learnt to do by understanding that ultimately, people work for people. Heirachy is necessary but is only truly affective when applied in the right way. This should never stop you from connecting with the people that ultimately make the machine work and deliver the results. Get to know your team, regardless of how many of them there are, know their names, roll your sleeves up, work shoulder to shoulder and be appreciative of what they do for you. Tonight has taught me that leadership of people is a constant, but a constant privilege. And if your teams give you the nod of appreciation, which they did tonight, it makes it all worthwhile. #whitecitymarksandspencer #centrallondon #centrallondonacademy

Congratulations to the legendary outlet centre researcher and number cruncher Ken Gunn who has just published the European Outlet Industry Review - the most insightful and detailed assessment of the outlet shopping centre industry and the retail and F&B brands operating within Europe that one can hope to have. If you are a retailer or food and beverage operator or outlet owner or investor wanting to know what’s going on in the current 212 outlet centres across 36 European countries then this is the report to have - especially where you want to understand what brands and F&B operators are up to and which outlets are in what ranked ‘tier’ of operation. Outlets continue to reign as the sexy part of commercial property when it comes to investment and operation. Gunn’s 2023 EOIR is the only sector report that reviews the locations of every outlet brand in Europe, combining these with site performance to create vitality rankings for both outlet centres and occupiers. A few highlights: Turnover for the sector at €21bn — some 13% higher than 2019 (the last comparable pre-Covid point). * Nearly 600 new brands have appeared on the out scene since July 2022. That’s in addition to the nearly 4,500 brands already operating in outlets! * Food & Beverage brands have increased by 9.5% and the number of F&B establishments by 11.3%. What to know more? Read about the report in some of the property press and if you really want to know more reach out to Ken Gunn himself through www.kengunn.co.uk #outlets #europeanoutletcentres #shopping #retail #fashion #fasionbrands #outletcentre #foodandbeverage #outletshopping #factoryoutlets #commercialproperty #investment #shopping #retail #retaildestination #kengunn #assetfinance #assetmanagement #banker #bicestervillage #Nike #starbucks #ralphlauren #levis #guess #puma #jackandjones #marcopolo #Adidas #Hugoboss #bollicine

Three key takeaways from the World Retail Congress

In the chaos of the everyday hustle, it is easy to lose track of progress. We set goals, we meet them (when things align) and we move on to the next. As I close in on my fifth month at First Retail Group, I'm taking a brief moment to pause. A gentle reminder, for all of us, to celebrate the wins and embrace the lessons learned from the misses. Wins, no matter how small, serve as markers of growth and perseverance. Here are my top 10 *moments* thus far: 1. My kids coming to see me at work when I couldn't make it home, thanks to the best support system a working mother/parent could ever ask for. 2. Company Vision, Mission and Values defined 3. Team OKRs in progress 4. Performance Management System introduced 5. 50+ new hires 6. 1 award of bid for a new strategic location 7. 1 new brand partnership confirmed 8. 1 store reopening - Miniso, Gulf City Mall 9. 1 new brand, new store opening - Levi's East Gates Mall 10. 2 new store openings - Miniso Trincity Mall and Miniso Westmall And yes, there were LOTS of missteps, missed deadlines and outright misses. Evident by the serious bags under my eyes from a BIG week with MISSED sleep 😅 Pause over - back to it! #Retail #Backtowork

Ralph Lauren has excelled with its Accelerate Plan strategy, enhancing brand desirability and offering valuable lessons for the hospitality industry. Ralph Lauren's strategy focused on its timeless brand appeal, resonating with customers of all ages. Similarly, hospitality businesses can create experiences that appeal to a broad audience while maintaining a consistent brand identity. Ralph Lauren utilized the authenticity of its lifestyle product portfolios. Hotels and restaurants can diversify their offerings to meet various customer needs, ensuring authenticity in their services and products. Ralph Lauren shifted towards higher-margin direct-to-consumer (DTC) channels, accounting for two-thirds of its business. Hospitality businesses can explore direct booking channels and personalized experiences to enhance profitability. Ralph Lauren inspires people to live their dreams by combining elegance and style. Hospitality brands can create aspirational experiences beyond mere accommodation or dining, offering guests a lifestyle they aspire to. Ralph Lauren's dedicated teams ensure the delivery of its vision with passion and care. Investing in staff training and fostering a passionate team can significantly enhance the guest experience. By adopting Ralph Lauren's branding strategies, hospitality businesses can build a robust and desirable brand that resonates with a broad audience, offers authentic experiences, and capitalizes on high-margin, direct-to-consumer channels. #BrandingSuccess #HospitalityIndustry #LearnFromTheBest #RalphLauren #CustomerExperience #StrategicBranding #TimelessAppeal #AuthenticExperiences #DirectToConsumer #Inspiration #HospitalityTips #BusinessGrowth

Want to know why I became obsessed with full service store level execution? Because…no matter how great your brand, packaging and product is, it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t show up in retail the way it needs to, the way you envision it will when you are doing everything it takes to make something possible. What does it take to be successful at store level? Relationships and consistency, showing up regularly and building rapport with the folks who are there everyday. Helping out, rolling up your sleeves, packing out, refilling the water jug, whatever it takes. It’s not about what YOU need, it’s about what makes the store sing. When you take this approach, you will earn the respect required to earn extra opportunities where it counts. I learned these lessons as a brand founder, and they were harsh realities to learn. I spent my whole life in grocery retail, but until I lived the brand life and gained perspective I didn’t know how critical this piece was. I knew I had to be part of a system that did this work, and in the way that I believed in. In 2017 I met Will Ahearn and the rest was history. I found my people, I fell in love with the culture, the people, the family. I had to be part of it. 7 years later, I’m still as invigorated by the wins in retail. The earned end caps, the front end displays, the added facings and closed voids. The best way to build your brand in retail is to win in every store you are in consistently over time. Show up for your retailer partners, in doing so you will be there for your customers, and you will become a reliable brand in every door. Its not a magical secret, it’s just showing up with a positive attitude and helpful hands. I continue to be blown away by people like Kuba Ceesay who continuously win the right way, and are part of the fabric of these stores. Kuba has been a part of Dirty Hands since before I got here all those years ago, and is one of the 150+ exceptional field leaders that represent brands incredibly well in Whole Foods and other key retailers. If you want to ensure success in retail, with people that care and will represent you the right way, look no further. If you’ve always been interested in the Dirty Hands difference, let me know and we will show you. #merchmonday #retail #cpg Laura Troiano Abby Redick John Foraker Stephen Hohenrieder bob nakasone Grant Burgess Allison Casper Elliot Houterman Brittany Bader Sarah Quinn Bell Harry Flud Michael McKinnon Matthew Aporta Lindsay Kent Shaun Burke Meg Bodner Rachel Ansley

Most store managers in retail believe they are recognized solely for their sales achievements and KPIs.🤔 But here's the thing: It's not just the numbers that count, but how you achieve them. Yes, achieving high sales figures and smashing KPIs can bring immediate recognition. However, this glory is often for a short period of time. As soon as someone else outperforms you, your records can quickly fade into the background. What truly leaves a lasting impression and will be remembered is the strategy you applied to achieve those numbers.🧠 So, this big weekend, if your store performs exceptionally well, make sure to shout out loud and tell your bosses not just what you achieved but how you did it. Best wishes to all the store teams for the 🇦🇪 NationalDay Big Weekend. #uaenationalday #retailmanagement #storemanagement #uae

This month, we're diving into The Starbucks Experience by Joseph Michelli, and this week we wanted to share our key takeaways pages 1-81: Principle 1 (make it your own) and Principle 2 (everything matters). •Everyone business owner should list the core ways of being that you need in order to be successful at __. For example, in order for Starbucks to be successful, their employees need these core ways of being: Be welcoming, be genuine, be knowledgeable, be considerable and be involved. •The right way to conduct business means truly turning employees into partners and making sure they feel valued. •Choose the right employees and train them well. Every employee should be knowledgeable about the product or service. •Starbucks strategizes around the space of each shop - they study and consider the size of the counter, the customer experience, and even the music playing at each shop. •By asking their customer's names when they order coffee, not only sets Starbucks apart from their competitors, but it allows their customers to feel special. • What sets you apart? What makes you your own? What makes working with you memorable?